Cell Potential

[105719095]

How are the cell potentials of an element arranged in the periodic table of elements? Does left right top or bottom have the most negative/positive cell potentials?

[005517427]

I believe it would just be the increasing of the atomic number as well as the masses.

[Elise Faux]

Section 6M.1 of the TB is helpful to reference for this (you can ctrl F periodic to find the exact spot). It says there "the most negative [cell potentials]—the most strongly reducing redox couples—are usually found toward the left of the periodic table, and the most positive—the most strongly oxidizing redox couples—are found toward the upper right," and "the most negative values are in the s block and that the most positive values are close to fluorine."

[Ananya_2L]

ello!

The cell potentials of elements are arranged in the periodic table based on their standard reduction potentials. The elements on the left side of the periodic table (Groups 1 and 2) have the most negative (or least positive) reduction potentials. On the other hand, the right side (Groups 16 and 17), has the most positive reduction potentials.

This is because the metals on the left side of the periodic table have a low ionization energy (which means easier to lose electrons and undergo oxidation) while the non-metals on the right side of the periodic table have a high electron affinity, making it easier for them to gain electrons and undergo reduction.

There are exceptions but I’m not too sure about them!

Just know, use the table of standard reduction potentials to determine the relative cell potentials of different elements.

Hope this helps :)